Latino Daily News

Atletico Madrid’s Manquillo Joins Liverpool on 2-Year Loan

Right back Javier Manquillo, who came through Atletico Madrid’s youth system and played last season with its first team, has joined Liverpool F.C. on a two-year loan, the clubs announced Wednesday on their respective Web sites.

The 20-year-old traveled Monday to Liverpool, passed a medical exam on Tuesday and has signed with the Premier League side, which earlier this offseason acquired Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren and Divock Origi.

Neither the Reds nor the reigning Spanish-league champions indicated if the deal included options for the British club to buy the player outright or for the Spanish side to reacquire him before the loan arrangement expires.

“From our club, we wish the young right back the best of luck in this new phase of his career,” Atletico Madrid, which won its 10th La Liga title last season, said in a statement.

“I’m very happy to have signed for a club like Liverpool. I think it’s one of the biggest in Europe. Any footballer would want to come and play here,” Manquillo was quoted as saying on Liverpool’s Web site.

The right back cemented his place in Atletico Madrid’s first team last season, although he played only seven of the squad’s 61 matches: three in La Liga, three in the Copa del Rey tournament and one in the Champions League.

In addition to Manquillo, eight other players that were part of Atletico Madrid’s squad in 2013-2014 will not be with the club in the upcoming season: Thibaut Courtois, Dani Aranzubia, David Villa, Diego Costa, Diego Ribas, Jose Sosa, Filipe Luis and Adrian Lopez.